Open AccessEarly Motor Balance and Coordination Training Increased Synaptophysin in Subcortical Regions of the Ischemic Rat Brain
Author(s) -
Han Gil Seo,
Dae Yul Kim,
Hee Won Park,
Shi-Uk Lee,
Sunghye Park
Publication year - 2010
Publication title -
journal of korean medical science/journal of korean medical science
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.743
H-Index - 66
eISSN - 1598-6357
pISSN - 1011-8934
DOI - 10.3346/jkms.2010.25.11.1638
Subject(s) - neuroplasticity , berg balance scale , synaptophysin , treadmill , physical medicine and rehabilitation , motor coordination , balance (ability) , dentate gyrus , medicine , hippocampus , psychology , neuroscience , physical therapy , immunohistochemistry
The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of early motor balance and coordination training on functional recovery and brain plasticity in an ischemic rat stroke model, compared with simple locomotor exercise. Adult male Sprague-Dawley rats with cortical infarcts were trained under one of four conditions: nontrained control, treadmill training, motor training on the Rota-rod, or both Rota-rod and treadmill training. All types of training were performed from post-operation day 1 to 14. Neurological and behavioral performance was evaluated by Menzies' scale, the prehensile test, and the limb placement test, at post-operation day 1, 7, and 14. Both Rota-rod and treadmill training increased the expression of synaptophysin in subcortical regions of the ischemic hemisphere including the hippocampus, dentate gyrus, and thalamus, but did not affect levels of brain-derived neurotrophic factor or tyrosin kinase receptor B. The Rota-rod training also improved Menzies' scale and limb placement test scores, whereas the simple treadmill training did neither. The control group showed significant change only in Menzies' scale score. This study suggests that early motor balance and coordination training may induce plastic changes in subcortical regions of the ischemic hemisphere after stroke accompanied with the recovery of sensorimotor performance.